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40 Days of Lent: Day 30

40 Days of Lent: Day 30

06 Mar 2023 | Office for Mission and Identity (OMI)

40 Days of Lent: Day 30

The start of every week can bring with it several reactions and feelings. It can be of being hopeful for we can never tell what will be in store. Perhaps there is dread because of what needs to be faced. There can also be gratitude for we are being given the continuous blessing of time and life. In all of these, what remains clear is that we are being invited to take another step and to venture further. And this will need courage.

Jesus is the perfect example of bearing courage. We saw it in how he spoke against things that were wrong, even if it meant contradicting tradition and authority. It was clear in how he endured pain in the midst of being left alone and abandoned by those who proclaimed belief in him. We know it from how he kept on fighting for our salvation over and over, from casting away demons to offering his very life. It was not always the courage that was loud or obvious. At times, it was quiet yet steady.

Our struggles and decisions may not be of grand scales all the time but we never lack times when we need to stand up for what’s right, do what needs to be done for the good, or manifest our best self. These require courage from us. And so where do you need courage as we start this new week? What are invitations for you to step forward, take responsibility and show strength? How can you be an instrument of light and grace? In all of these, we look to Jesus for his was a courage borne out of love, sustained by love and triumphant in love.

40 Araw ng Kuwaresma: Ika-30 Araw

May iba-ibang reaksyon at damdaming kaakibat ang isang bagong linggo. Maaaring may pag-asa sapagkat di natin batid ang mga parating. Marahil mayroon ding kaba sa kung ano ang kailangang harapin. Maaari ring may pasasalamat sa patuloy na biyaya ng panahon at buhay. Sa lahat ng ito, malinaw na may paanyayang humakbang at mangahas. At nangangailangan ito ng lakas ng loob at tapang.

Si Hesus ang pinakamabuting halimbawa ng pagtataglay ng lakas ng loob. Nakita natin ito sa kung paano niya pinuna ang mga mali, kahit pa nangahulugan ito ng pagtaliwas sa mga nakasanayan na at sa mga taong nasa posisyon. Malinaw ito sa kanyang pagtitiis ng sakit sa kabila ng pag-iisa at pang-iiwan ng mga nagsabing nananampalataya sa kanya. Batid natin ito sa paulit-ulit niyang pakikipaglaban para sa ating kaligtasan, mula sa pagwawaksi ng mga demonyo hanggang sa pag-aalay ng kanya mismong buhay. Hindi laging nakatatawag ng pansin ang kanyang tapang. May mga panahong tahimik lamang ito subalit matatag.

Ang mga hamon at pagpili natin ay hindi tungkol sa malalaking bagay sa lahat ng panahon subalit hindi tayo nawawalan ng pagkakataon kung kailan nararapat tayong manindigan para sa tama, gumawa ng kailangan para sa mabuti, o magsabuhay ng pinakamainam nating sarili. Lahat ng ito ay nangangailangan ng tapang at lakas ng loob. Kung kaya, saan humihiling ng iyong tapang sa pagsisimula nitong linggo? Ano ang mga paanyaya na humakbang nang pasulong, umako ng responsibilidad at magpakita ng lakas? Paano ka magiging daluyan ng liwanag at biyaya? Sa lahat ng ito, bumaling tayo kay Hesus sapagkat ang kanyang lakas ng loob at tapang ay nagmula sa pag-ibig, napanatili ng pag-ibig, at nakasumpong ng tagumpay sa pag-ibig.